Former AFL star Nicky Winmar has indicated he will plead guilty to assaulting a Melbourne taxi driver earlier this year.
Winmar's lawyer Sam Norton told the Melbourne Magistrates' Court the 53-year-old would admit charges of recklessly causing injury to the taxi driver, and being drunk in a public place, following a match between St Kilda and Essendon at Docklands on March 30.
The court heard Winmar and his partner got into an argument with the driver after they were asked to prepay their fare.
Winmar and the driver began pushing each other, before Winmar hit and kicked his victim multiple times, causing him a split lip, bruising and swelling to his cheek and bruising around his ribs.
Winmar, who is celebrated for his 1993 stand against racial vilification in the AFL, had told police he was pushed first, but did not allege he was subject to any racial attack.
Magistrate Felicity Broughton stood the matter down while she waited to view CCTV footage of the assault.
In an AFL career spanning more than a decade, Winmar played 251 matches for St Kilda and the Western Bulldogs before retiring at the end of the 1999 season.
He was voted St Kilda's best and fairest player twice and was twice named in the All-Australian team.
The court heard Winmar's hearing had been delayed so he could attend last month's Perth unveiling of a statue commemorating his stand against racism.
The hearing continues.
